WHAT IS TRUE COURAGE?
I READ the other day of a young girl, who, seeing far out on the water a capsized boat, with a man clinging to it, seized her own boat, in which she was accustomed to row about in the smooth waters of the bay, and went to save the life of the unfortunate man. She had never been out in such rough water, and her strength was scarcely sufficient for the task she had undertaken. But she succeeded, and rowed back to shore with the half-drowned man in the boat. She had risked her life to save another's! Was it a praise worthy act?
Who thinks otherwise? About the same time I read of a man who undertook to swim the rapids of Niagara, and who lost his life in the attempt. And people had only a pitying contempt for the courage that could thus throw away the life that God gave. Perhaps the likelihood that the feat would be successful, was as great in the one case as in the other; yet we commend the courage of the one, and condemn the folly of the other. What makes the difference?
A strong man, capable of being very useful in saving life, because of the very accomplishment, which brought him to disaster, threw away his life, risking all, that he might, if successful, gain a few dollars. A frail young girl risks all for a human life! Here was the difference, love of money and love of humanity. When I read the account of the sad end of the misguided man, I said, Here's a thought for the boys: Don't be foolhardy! Don't risk that which does not belong to you. You are not your own, you are bought with a price, and, except at the command of your Master, you have no right to jeopardize your life. I trust you will not flinch when he leads you into danger, but when you would rush into peril unbidden, remember this, there is no merit in foolhardiness.
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